Lamp control switch



Sept. 7, 1943. N. cHlRELsTL-:IN

LAMP CONTROL SWITCH Filed June 3D, 1942 Patented Sept. 7, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

The invention here disclosed relates to the control of devices in the nature of fluorescent lamps.

Special objects of the invention are to provide simple, mechanical switch mechanism for automatically interposing preliminary circuit connections for Warming up the electrodes and which will be combined with and in .effect form part of the main switch mechanism for controlling supply of current to the lamp.

A further special object is to effect the combination of the supplemental switch mechanism necessary to control the starting circuit, in a practical and desirable way, with more or less standard switch mechanisms, such as the conventional toggle switches or wall switches.

Other desirable objects and the novel features by which al1 purposes of the invention are attained are hereinafter set forth or will appear in the course of the following speciiication.

The drawing accompanying and form-ing part of the specification illustrates one present preferred embodiment of the invention. It is to be understood however, that structure may be modi fied and changed as regards this particular illustration, all within the true intent and broad scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a wall switch of the toggle type having features of the present invention embodied therein and showing diagrammatcally how such a switch can be co-nnected to control the main supply circuit and the starting circuit of a fluorescent lamp. In this view, the main supply switch portion of the apparatus is shown in the off or open circuit position and the supplemental switch mechanism controlling the starting circuit is shown in the on or closed circuit condition.

Fig. 2 is a broken sectional detail showing the switch thrown to the on position, closing the supply circuit to the lamp, the supplemental switch, due to its delayed operation structure remaining still in the closed circuit position.

Fig. 3 is a broken sectional view showing the position of parts following closing ci the main switch, with the supplemental switch having suiiicient time to shift to the open circuit relation.

In Fig. l, the parts of a toggle switch of more or less conventional design are illustrated, comprising the toggle lever 5, pivoted at 6, and carrying the bearing l, for one end ofthe compres- Sion spring 8, whose opposite end engages the stud 9, of a rocker I0, pivotcd on a center Il, and carrying the bar contact I2, for cooperation with iixed contacts i3 and i4.,

The terminals I5, I6, of the main switch mechanism described are shown connected the rst by Wiring Il, to one side of an electric supply circuit and the second by wiring I8, to one end of one electrode I9, in the lamp tube 20. The other electrode 2I, is shown connected at one end by wiring 22, to the other side of the supply circuit.

The supplemental switch mechanism for controlling the starting circuit is shown as comprising a U-shaped spring contact 23, adapted to bridge opposed spaced contacts 24, 25, having terminalg 25, 2l, connected respectively by wires 28, 29, with the open ends of the filaments or electrodes I9, 2|.

The supplemental switch contacter 23, is shown fixed on the end of a rod 30, carrying a piston washer 3|, operating in air cylinder 32, having a timing vent 33.

The upper end of the switch rod 30, is shown as slidingly engaged in a tubular link 34, and as carrying a cross pin 35, operating in a slot 36, in said link.

A compression spring 3l, is shown interposed between the end of the slotted link '34, and the contact carrying end of the switch rod.

Connection between the main and supplemental switch mechanisms are provided in the present illustration by means of a slotted extension 38, on the inner or rearward swinging portion of the toggle yoke 9, receiving a cross pin 39, in the upper, slotted end of the tubular link 34.

The air cylinder 32, may be constituted as an integral rearward extension of the insulating base 40, of the switch and the mechanism of the main control switch may be substantially conventional as to design, except for modification of the swinging yoke to provide it with the rearward extension 38.

Operation pin 35, has raised the rod 30, to carry the contactor 23, up into its upper position, where, as indicated in Fig. l, it closes the supplemental starting circuit represented by wire 28, contacts 24, 25,- and wire 29, for connecting the open ends of the lamp electrodes I9, 2l. Thus in the open the bridging or starting circuit across the lampelectrodes.

Fig. 2 illustrates the position of parts at the instant the switch is thrown to the on position. AiV such time, the main supply circuit for the lamp is closed by contacter I2, across switch contacts i3, i4, and by way of terminal l5, and conductor il, to one side of the line and by way of terminal i6, and conductor i8, to one end of electrode I8. At this instant of closing the main circuit, the piston 3 l of the supplemental switch delays downward circuit opening movement of the supplemental switch, thus to leave the bridging circuit closed across the wiring 28, 29, etc., and establish the electrodes in the series connected relation indicated in Fig. l.

The time required for the downward movement of the supplemental switch contacter may be regulated by the size of the escape vent 33, in the lower end of the air cylinder and by the strength of the expanding spring 3T. At the end of the predetermined period, the spring 3T, forces the piston down far enough to carry the movable contacter clear of the switch contacts 24, 25, Fig. 3, thus to interrupt the bridging or starting circuit across the ends of the electrodes and to leave the electrodes connected at their other ends with the opposite sides of the supply circuit.

When the switch is again thrown to "oil position, the lower end of the slot 3B, in the tubular link 34, will pick up the cross pin 35, in the switch rod and carry the supplemental switch contacter back up into the closed circuit position illustrated in Fig. 1.

The slot 36, as shown in Fig. 3, may be long enough to permit the tubular link 34, to start its upward movement before picking up the rod carrying the contacter 23. Thus the spring actuated yoke or toggle of the main switch may begin its movement practically free of any load from the supplemental switch. Similar lost motion, if desired, may be provided between the slotted end 38 of the yoke and pin 39 so that the yoke may be started in the opposite direction of movement before taking up any load from the supplemental switch.

What is Claimed is:

1. Control mechanism for fluorescent lamps or other purposes, comprising a main switch for controlling supply of current, said main switch having a member movable in one direction on closing said switch and movable in the opposite direction on opening said switch, a supplemental switch for controlling a starting circuit, said supplemental switch having a movable switch member, connections for operating and controlling said supplemental switch from said main switch, including a link having extensibly related portions connected one with the movable member of the main switch and the other with the movable member oi the supplemental switch and arranged to sluit the supplemental switch to closed circuit relation when the main switch is shifted to open circuit relation, cooperable stop shoulders on the extensibly related portions of said link, separable in the movement of said link by the closing of the main switch but engageable in the opening movement oi said main switch to effect shifting of the supplemental switch to closed circuit position and spring means acting on said extensible link in the direction to force the movable member of the supplemental switch to open circuit position and arranged to be tensioned on relative movement of said extensibly related portions when said supplemental switch is in closed circuit position and said main switch is operated in the circuit closing direction, to thereby store energy for shifting the movable member of4 the supplemental switch in the switch opening direction, after the main switch is closed.

2. Control mechanism for fluorescent lamps or other purposes, comprising a main switch for controlling supply of current, said main switch having a member movable in one direction on closing said switch and movable in the opposite direction on opening said switch, a supplemental switch for controlling a starting circuit, said supplemental switch having a movable switch member, connections for operating and controlling said supplemental switch from said main switch, including a link having extensibly related portions connected one with the movable member of the main switch and the other with the movable member of the supplemental switch and arranged to shift the supplemental switch to closed circuit relation when the main switch is shifted to open circuit relation, cooperable stop shoulders on the extensibly related portions of said link, separable in the movement of said link by the closing of the main switch but engageable in the opening movement of said main switch to effect shifting of the supplemental switch to closed circuit position and spring means acting on said extensible link in the direction to force the movable member of the supplemental switch to open circuit position and arranged to be tensioned on relative movement of said extensibly related portions when said supplemental switch is in closed circuit position and said main switch is operated in the circuit closing direction, to thereby store energy for shifting the movable member of the supplemental switch in the switch opening direction, after the main switch is closed and means for delaying the operation of said spring means in shifting said supplemental switch to circuit closed position.

3. Control mechanism for iluorescent lamps or other purposes, comprising a main switch for controlling supply of current, said main switch having a member movable in one direction on closing said switch and movable in the opposite direction on opening said switch, a supplemental switch for controlling a starting circuit, said supplemental switch having a movable switch member, connections for operating and controlling said supplemental switch from said main switch, including a link having extensibly related portions connected one with the movable member of the main switch and the other with the movable member of the supplemental switch and arranged to shift the supplemental switch to closed circuit relation when the main switch is shifted to open circuit relation, cooperable stop shoulders on the extensibly related portions of said link, separable in the movement of said link by the closing of the main switch but engageable in the opening movement of said main switch to effect shifting of the supplemental switch to closed circuit position and spring means acting on said extensible link in the direction to force the movable member of the supplemental switch to open circuit position and arranged to be tensioned on relative movement of said extensibly related portions when said supplemental switch is in closed circuit position and said main switch is operated in the circuit closing direction, to thereby store energy for shifting the movable member of the supplemental switch in the switch opening direction, after the main switch is closed, the portions of said extensible link comprising telescopically engaged members, said stop shoulders including a pin on one of said members operating in a. longitudinal slot in the other of said members and said spring means being interposed between said telescopically related members of the link.

4. Control mechanism for fluorescent lamps or other purposes, comprising a main switch for controlling supply of current, said main switch having a. member movable in one direction on closing said switch. and movable in the opposite direction on opening said switch, a supplemental switch for controlling a starting circuit, said supplemental switch having a movable switch member, connections for operating and controlling said supplemental switch from said main switch, including a link having extensibly related portions connected one with the movable member of the main switch and the other with the movable member of the supplemental switch and arranged to shift the supplemental switch to closed circuit relation when the main switchy is shifted to open circuit relation, cooperable stop shoulders on the extensibly related portions of said link, separable in the movement of said .switch is operated in the circuit4 closing direction,

to thereby store energy for shifting the movable member of the supplemental switch in the switch opening direction, after the main switch is closed, the portions of said extensible link comprising telescopically engaged members, said stop shoulders including a pin on one of said members operating in a longitudinal slot in the other of said members and said spring means being interposed between said telescopically related members of the link, a vented air cylinder in the line of movement of said link and a piston element in said air cylinder and arranged foroperation by said link to delay circuit opening movement of said supplemental switch.

NATHAN CHIRELS'I'EIN. 

